In a humble cell at HMP Frankland, Michael Stone is anticipated to receive a DNA sample collection tube from an investigator reviewing his case for possible miscarriages of justice.
The individual serving a life sentence for the murders of Lin Russell and her daughter Megan is set to provide a DNA sample that could potentially exonerate him from the crime. This investigation by the Criminal Cases Review Commission coincidentally aligns with the 30th anniversary of one of Britain’s most shocking and brutal crimes in recent history.
The tragic event took place on July 9, 1996, when six-year-old Megan, accompanied by her sister Josie, attended a swimming gala. After the event, their mother Lin, a 45-year-old geologist, along with the family dog Lucy, picked them up from school in the village of Goodnestone, Kent.
While taking a shortcut through cornfields and a wood towards their home in Nonington, a man in a car approached them, wielding a hammer. He proceeded to force them into a clearing, where he bound and subjected them to a vicious assault. The family dog, Lucy, was also fatally attacked.
Despite the horrific incident, Josie miraculously survived after being found tied to a tree. The attacker left Lin and Megan lying nearby, with no apparent robbery or sexual motive behind the assault.
The investigation at the time faced challenges, as forensic evidence failed to link a strong suspect to the crime. Witness testimonies provided varying descriptions of a suspicious individual, but none positively identified the perpetrator.
Despite the convictions and retrials, doubts persist over the evidence presented against Stone, including alleged confessions obtained from inmates during his time in prison. The ongoing review by the Criminal Cases Review Commission aims to assess the possibility of a miscarriage of justice in Stone’s case, with a focus on potential new DNA evidence that could impact the outcome.
